A health unit in midwestern Ontario has seen more new measles cases than any other area in the province over the past week.
According to Public Health Ontario, there were 32 new cases of the highly contagious virus reported from July 8 to 15, with 19 of those confirmed in Huron-Perth. This brings the total number of cases for the region monitored by Huron Perth Public Health to 278 since the measles outbreak started last October. Across Ontario, there have been a total of 2,276 cases.
Huron-Perth’s infection rate now stands at 178.1 cases per 100,000 people. This is significantly higher than Grey-Bruce’s rate of 28.7 cases per 100,000 people. Only one new case was recorded in Grey-Bruce during the last week.
The recent increase in Huron-Perth was reportedly linked to an exposure at a private gathering. The region continues to have the third highest overall case count in Ontario, following Southwestern Public Health and Grand Erie Public Health.
Earlier this week, Huron Perth Public Health alerted residents about a potential exposure at St. Marys Memorial Hospital. Anyone who visited the emergency department between 8:55 a. m. and 11:35 a. m. on Monday might have been exposed to measles. The health unit has advised those present during that time frame to watch for symptoms, which can take up to 21 days to develop. Symptoms of measles include fever, a red blotchy rash, red watery eyes, and cough.
Public health officials emphasize that getting vaccinated is the best way to protect against measles.
“Almost all infant, child, and adolescent outbreak cases (96.3 per cent) were unimmunized, while 68.5 per cent of adults were unimmunized,” Public Health Ontario noted in its latest report on measles released Thursday.
Alberta and New Brunswick are also facing outbreaks.
Source link
Source link
